Home for the Summer – How to Make it Work

All student think that by the time they get home from college, their parents will be anxiously  awaiting their arrival with new rules, curfews, and chores. I know that I am always excited to go home until I remember how – dare I say, persistent? – my parents can be about cleaning my room, walking the dog, and keeping a constant eye on where I am and who I’m with. With that being said, have we ever thought of our parents’ point of view and how they actually feel? Probably not. Perhaps it is time we put things in perspective and start seeing why they do the things they do.

Cabrini College posted advice on how to ease into living at home. Their number one thing to do was to simply pitch in. Is it really that difficult to clean up your own mess, take out the garbage, and do your laundry? We do it for ourselves at college, so why can’t we do it at home?

They also make a point to not forget about respecting your parents.  You may talk to your friends differently than you do your parents, so keep this in mind. When I asked my mom what bothers her the most when I come home from school she said, “You’re home with your parents, not your friends.  Adjust how you speak and speak with respect. It usually takes you a few weeks, but I guess you could be a lot worse…” I can’t deny this—it’s true.  Definitely something I could work on!

It can be a tough adjustment.  We all come home after months of complete freedom — no curfew, no nagging.  However, we need to realize and accept that there are rules when we come home. If we don’t agree with those rules, we should calmly talk to our parents.  I wasn’t happy about one thing – my curfew – so I made it a point to have that conversation in my house. The reasonable negotiation? “Call when you are going to be home late so we aren’t worried,” my parents said.  That’s not so bad!

I think my friend’s mom put it the best way.  I asked my friends’ parents on Facebook what we could do to be better college kids and here’s what Dawn had to say (well said):

What can we take out of all of this? Be respectful, help out a little, and spend time with your parents — they love you!

Written by Guest Blogger, Maria Cafferata

posted by Sandybn
05.29.12
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We’re in the Home Stretch…Finals Week

Finals week: each semester we forget how draining it is until it sneaks up on us once again. The late night cram sessions, the fatigue, the crowded library tables filled with worn out students. The imperative need for a focused mind seems to make it that much harder to actually muster up the motivation for such a thing. Needless to say, the phrase “finals week” has become synonymous with “misery” for many a college student. Well, no more! As a seasoned veteran of plenty of finals weeks myself, I’m bringing you my little tips that always help get me through.

Plan: Even if you think it’s unnecessary, plan out your study schedule. Include meals, study breaks, and even a nap if you need one. Breaking the days down into segments will make the task at hand less overwhelming and will help you stay on track. Feel free to move things around each day too, to fit with what you accomplished the previous day.

Eat: This sounds simple, but it’s a concept forgotten by many students. I’m not just referring to eating a full breakfast, lunch, and dinner (you need fuel!), but to packing healthy and energizing snacks as well. Pack a banana, some water, some pretzels….whatever you prefer! Don’t get distracted by hunger when you should be focusing on the course material.

Ask: Ask questions if you have them! Stop by your professor’s office hours. If you feel comfortable with the material, ask about the exam format and if he or she has any advice to offer. If there is an area you can’t seem to master, ask them to go over it with you. Professors are a valuable academic resource!

Breathe: It’s test time! Stressing yourself out is of no use to you now (yes I know, easier said than done). You’ve studied hard, you know the material, and you’re ready to take the exam – all you need to do is breathe and envision it going smoothly. Now envision it again. Focus your energy into performing well, not worrying.

Celebrate: When I say “celebrate,” I don’t mean stay out until the sun comes up. What I do mean is that it’s important to acknowledge your accomplishment. By finishing another exam, you’re one step closer to being done for the semester. Even if you have back-to-back finals, go for a quick walk in between. Even if it’s for only a few minutes, take the time to revel in the fact that another class has been completed.

We can’t promise that finals will be easy, but you’ve come this far already so finish the semester off right! Being as prepared as possible will help finals week seem more manageable. Good luck!!

posted by Sandybn
04.27.12
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How To: Get the Most Out Of Your Classes

Sure, the “College Years” are an important time to make friends and to be social, but at the root of it all, college is really a place to get an education. Getting the most out of your classes is a whole lot easier once you understand how to use all of the resources your college provides for you, namely your professors! Below is a list of tips and tricks to help you really get the most out of your educational experience:

  1. Go to class – Though this concept sounds really obvious, the truth is a lot students don’t actually attend class. Every once in a while you might have a legitimate reason to skip but, for the most part, do your best to show up to every class session. You’ll feel better knowing you didn’t miss any scheduling changes or other minor details!
  2. Make friends in your classes – Class is much more bearable when you have someone to share the experience with. In addition, making friends gives you someone to study with, to clarify material, and maybe even hang out with outside of class.
  3. Participate –Participation helps clarify things you might be unsure of and shows professors that you take their material seriously. Because you are not zoning out or watching the clock, it also helps class fly by much more quickly!
  4. Attend office hours when you can –By the time exams roll around, you will be steps ahead of your classmates because you will already have asked the questions they’ll  be saving up all semester. Most professors are eager to help and are one of the most valuable resources you can find.
  5. Be polite – Think manners are unrelated to succeeding in school? Think again. I once had a fellow student talk during an entire 45-minute presentation of mine. When he finally stopped talking, he started texting. Appalled, it took all of my remaining energy to not publicly call him out for being so rude. The experience, however, got me thinking: this must be exactly how professors feel when students talk and text during class! Whether or not you believe it, professors notice…and appreciate…good classroom manners. How can you expect them to take you seriously when you don’t afford them the same courtesy? Think about it next time you start playing Words with Friends during a lecture.

~ Guest Blogger, Sandra Webb, The College of New Jersey, ’11

posted by tamarabn
09.20.11
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Study Tips

“I couldn’t tell you what I learned from school, but I could tell you a story or two.” Okay, so maybe Asher Roth couldn’t tell you what he learned in college, but for the rest of us, we have to take a thing or two away from our college classes. (Afterall, most of us are putting ourselves into debt indefinitely just to be here!) Unfortunately, that means we have to spend a lot of time studying and preparing for our next exam.

However, studying isn’t so bad if you learn how to get the most out of your study sessions! Here are a few tips to help you maximize your study sessions so that you have more time to enjoy the college life Asher loves so much:

  1. Identify your study style. Do you like silence or background noise while you’re studying? Can you study in your room or does that provide too many distractions? Do you comprehend material when you read it or do you need to make flashcards or study guides to synthesize material? Remember that what works for your roommate or even that super smart guy in your Intro to Chem class may not work for you. Try different study aids and environments until you find what works for you.
  2. Find the perfect study spot. Some prefer to study in the silent solace of the library; others prefer somewhere with some background noise, such as a student center or café. However, don’t limit yourself to where you can study! Sometimes the best study spots are “hidden” on campus. For example, our campus has an old chapel that they reconverted into study space. I discovered it second semester my freshmen year, and it’s still one of my favorite spots two years later! Besides being beautiful inside, it has plenty of outlets to plug in your computer, couches if you prefer to study somewhere a bit more comfortably (or take a nap), and is located in our student center, making it easy to grab a coffee or a snack without interrupting your study session. Explore your campus; you never know where you’ll find the best study spot! Full posts →
posted by ErinBN
08.30.11
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